Vladimir Putin visited the Republic of Tatarstan

Vladimir Putin visited workshops of FIAT Ducato manufacture in Yelabuga

On May 27th, Russian Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin travelled to Special Economic Zone “Alabuga”. During the visit, he is accompanied by RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and RT Prime-minister Rustem Minnekhanov.

The head of the RF government was taken through production facilities of joint-stock company “Sollers” (previously known as “Severstal’-auto"). Vladimir Putin started tour of the complex from “Fiat Ducato” assembly division. Currently the company employs 600 assembly workers, with plans to increase their number up to 6000.

The plant, designed with total production capacity of 120 thousand automobiles a year, is currently assembling "Fiat Ducato" minivans, as well as various modifications of "Isuzu" trucks. As stated by director-general of JSC “Severstal’-auto” Mr.Vadim Shvetsov, the goal is to reach 90% level of local-made components use as 80% of the automobile’s cost is in its components".

Vladimir Putin currently continues his visit of “Severstal’-auto” production facilities at SEZ “Alabuga”. He chose to sit at the steering-wheel of one of the electro-cars used to take guests around the production floors.

Upon visiting facilities at SEZ "Alabuga", Vladimir Putin is to take part in the round-table entitled “On ways to increase Russia’s automobile production”.

One of the first in Russia, “Alabuga” Industrial-Commercial type Special Economic Zone was created on the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan Alabuga district on December 21, 2005. SEZ "Alabuga" covers 20 square kilometers, making it the largest industrial-commercial type SEZ in Russia.

SEZ "Alabuga" started bringing significant results 2 years after its creation and currently it’s a leading SEZ in Russian Federation in the rate of all type of infrastructure (commercial, production and customs facilities) growth. SEZ “Alabuga” has budget allocations of 18,5 billion rubles for development of its infrastructure, of which 5 billion were already appropriated.

Currently SEZ “Alabuga” hosts two production facilities: "Sollers-Alabuga", Ltd. and "Sollers-ISUZU". Other SEZ residents’ business plans envision initiation of commercial activity at the end of 2008 – beginning of 2009. Both current residents of SEZ, enterprises of JSC “Sollers” holding company, represent automotive industry.

According to SEZ "Alabuga" growth strategy, construction of all its infrastructure is to be completed by 2011. By that time Alabuga is to host over 40 resident companies, which would translate into about 16 thousand new jobs and 2 billion USD of investment into the economy of the region.